Ed Brock is an award-winning journalist who has worked for various U.S. newspapers and magazines, including with American City & County magazine, a national publication based in Atlanta focused on city and county government issues. He is currently senior editor at Asian Hospitality magazine, the top U.S. publication for Asian American hoteliers. Originally from Mobile, Alabama, Ed began his career in journalism in the early 1990s as a reporter for a chain of weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. After a stint teaching English in Japan, Ed returned to the U.S. and moved to the Atlanta area where he returned to journalism, coming to work at Asian Hospitality in 2016.
VOCO, AN UPSCALE brand launched in Australia two years ago by InterContinental Hotels Group, is coming to the U.S. market. The first three properties are planned for New York City; St. Augustine, Florida; and Columbia, Missouri.
The brand offers owners flexible brand standards as well as specific field marketing and commercial support. It is focused on conversions as well as adaptive reuse and new build projects, and each hotel offers unique experiences. There are 28 new properties in the brand’s pipeline being developed in 19 countries over the next five years, and most in urban and leisure locations.
The three new U.S. properties are:
voco The Franklin Hotel in New York: The hotel in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, has served travelers from around the world for a century and is within walking distance of attractions such as Central Park, the Museum Mile and Madison Avenue shops.
voco St. Augustine: Standing in the nation’s oldest city, this hotel is three years old and sits between the beaches of St. Augustine and the city’s historic district which includes restaurants, shopping, galleries, museums and tourist attractions.
voco The Tiger Hotel: One of the tallest buildings in Columbia, this landmark hotel is in downtown and is adjacent to the University of Missouri campus, with access to numerous area restaurants, bars, retail shops, and amenities. It opened its doors in 1928.
“As the voco brand makes its debut in the Americas, it is generating terrific momentum with our initial three signings illustrating how strongly it resonates with owners seeking to enhance the originality of an existing property or develop a new hotel, while also tapping into IHG’s powerful global network and enterprise offerings,” said Julienne Smith, IHG’s senior vice president for development, Americas.
Last September, IHG began franchising its upper-midscale brand Atwell Suites.
Sonesta launched Americas Best Value Studios, an extended-stay version of ABVI.
The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping.
The brand meets demand for longer-term, value-focused stays.
SONESTA INTERNATIONAL HOTELS Corp. launched Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta, an extended-stay version of its franchised brand, Americas Best Value Inn. The model targets owners seeking limited front desk and housekeeping, optional fitness center and lobby market along with standard brand requirements.
The brand aims to address the growing demand for longer-term, value-driven accommodations, Sonesta said in a statement.
"Americas Best Value Studios by Sonesta represents a strategic evolution of our trusted Americas Best Value Inn brand," Keith Pierce, Sonesta’s executive vice president and president of franchise development, said. "We are expanding our offerings to directly address the increasing demand within the extended-stay segment, providing a practical solution for travelers seeking longer-term lodging at value. This new brand type allows our local franchised owner-operators to tap into a growing market while maintaining the community-focused experience that Americas Best Value Inn is known for."
ABVI has a majority presence in secondary and tertiary markets, the statement said.
The extended-stay brand’s operational model features a front desk, bi-weekly housekeeping, on-site laundry and pet-friendly accommodations, Sonesta said. Guests can also earn or redeem points through the Sonesta Travel Pass loyalty program.
In August, Sonesta named Stayntouch its preferred property management system after a two-year review of its ability to support the company’s franchise model. The company operates more than 1,100 properties with more than 100,000 rooms across 13 brands on three continents.
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